After a big holiday meal, one of the best parts is often the promise of delicious leftovers.

Easy Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup Recipe for a Cozy Meal 16

But sometimes, you want to transform those remnants into something entirely new and equally comforting. This easy leftover turkey noodle soup recipe is the perfect solution, turning tender turkey into a warm, inviting bowl that feels both fresh and familiar.

This recipe is designed for those moments when you crave a cozy, homemade meal without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s a fantastic way to use up that cooked turkey, creating a flavorful and hearty soup that the whole family will love, especially on a chilly evening.

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Time Needed From Start To Finish
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe

What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe

This turkey noodle soup is a true weeknight hero, perfect for busy families or anyone looking for a comforting meal without a lot of fuss. It’s incredibly forgiving, making it ideal for beginner cooks, and it comes together surprisingly fast, especially since your turkey is already cooked. You’ll love how easily you can adapt it to what you have on hand, making it a flexible option for using up other stray vegetables in your fridge. It’s a warm hug in a bowl, perfect for a cozy family dinner, a soothing lunch, or even when you’re feeling a bit under the weather. The rich broth, tender turkey, and soft noodles create a satisfying texture and flavor combination that appeals to almost everyone.

Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress

Gathering your ingredients for this soup is straightforward, focusing on pantry staples and, of course, your delicious leftover turkey. The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and the readily available items you’ll need.

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
1 cup chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium)
1 cup chopped carrots (about 2 medium)
1 cup chopped celery (about 2 stalks)
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth
1 cup cooked leftover turkey, shredded or diced
1 cup egg noodles (medium or wide)
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried sage
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)

When it comes to substitutions, feel free to use vegetable broth if you prefer, or if you don’t have chicken broth on hand. Any kind of cooked poultry can stand in for the turkey, so if you have leftover rotisserie chicken, that works beautifully too. For the noodles, while egg noodles are classic, you can certainly use small pasta shapes like ditalini, elbow macaroni, or even broken spaghetti if that’s what you have in your pantry. Don’t be afraid to add other vegetables like diced potatoes, peas, or corn for extra color and nutrients. Just be sure to add heartier vegetables like potatoes earlier in the cooking process so they have enough time to soften.

Time Needed From Start To Finish

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Total time: 35 minutes

How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues

Creating this comforting turkey noodle soup is a breeze. Follow these simple steps for a delicious result every time.

Sauté the aromatics: Heat the olive oil or butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften and the onion becomes translucent.
Add the garlic and herbs: Stir in the minced garlic, dried thyme, and dried sage. Cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
Pour in the broth: Carefully pour in the chicken or turkey broth. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over medium-high heat.
Simmer the vegetables: Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 10 minutes. This allows the vegetables to become tender and the flavors to meld beautifully.
Add turkey and noodles: Uncover the pot and add the cooked, shredded or diced turkey and the egg noodles. Stir everything together.
Cook the noodles: Continue to simmer, uncovered, for another 5-8 minutes, or until the noodles are tender to your liking. Keep an eye on them to prevent overcooking.
Season and serve: Taste the soup and season generously with salt and black pepper. Remember that broths can vary in sodium content, so adjust accordingly. Ladle the hot soup into bowls and garnish with fresh chopped parsley, if desired.

Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life

This turkey noodle soup is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to suit various tastes and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you can use alphabet pasta instead of egg noodles, making mealtime a bit more fun. Adding a handful of frozen peas or corn during the last few minutes of cooking also boosts the vegetable content and adds a touch of sweetness that kids often enjoy.

If you want to make it heartier, consider adding a can of drained cannellini beans or chickpeas along with the turkey. For a creamier texture, stir in a splash of heavy cream or a tablespoon of cream cheese at the very end, just before serving. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice right before serving can brighten all the flavors beautifully.

This soup is wonderful on its own, but it also pairs perfectly with a variety of sides. Serve it with a crusty baguette or homemade dinner rolls for dipping. A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette makes a refreshing contrast to the warm soup. For a more substantial meal, grilled cheese sandwiches are a classic pairing that never disappoints. Don’t forget a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese or a dollop of pesto on top for an extra layer of flavor.

Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them

Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Here’s how to ensure your turkey noodle soup turns out perfectly every time:

Overcooking the noodles: This is probably the most common mistake. Noodles can quickly turn mushy if cooked too long. Add them only after the vegetables have softened and cook just until they are tender-crisp. Taste them frequently during the last few minutes of cooking.
Undercooking vegetables: While you want tender noodles, you also want tender vegetables. Make sure to sauté the onions, carrots, and celery until they are soft before adding the broth. Simmering them in the broth for 10 minutes also helps ensure they are perfectly cooked.
Bland broth: Using a good quality, flavorful broth is key. If your broth tastes a bit weak, you can enhance it with a bouillon cube or a little extra dried herb blend. Don’t forget to season generously with salt and pepper at the end. Taste and adjust as needed.
Adding too much salt too early: Broths, especially store-bought ones, can vary greatly in sodium content. It’s best to season with salt towards the end of cooking, after the broth has reduced slightly and the noodles have absorbed some liquid. This prevents the soup from becoming overly salty.
Not enough turkey: While this is a leftover recipe, make sure you have enough turkey to make it a satisfying meal. The recipe calls for 1 cup, but you can always add a bit more if you have it and want a meatier soup.

How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture

This turkey noodle soup is fantastic for meal prep and storing leftovers, though there are a few tips to keep in mind to maintain its best texture.

To store leftover soup, allow it to cool completely at room temperature (no more than two hours) before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

If you plan to freeze the soup, it’s often best to freeze it *without* the noodles. Cooked noodles can become mushy and break down when frozen and reheated. Instead, prepare the soup base (vegetables, turkey, and broth) and freeze that. When you’re ready to serve, thaw the soup base, bring it to a simmer, and then add fresh noodles to cook. This method ensures perfectly textured noodles every time. The soup base can be frozen for up to 2-3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.

To reheat refrigerated soup, gently warm it on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. You may need to add a splash of extra broth or water if the soup has thickened too much. If reheating a frozen soup base, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, then proceed with reheating on the stovetop and cooking fresh noodles.

Questions People Always Ask Before Making This Recipe

Can I use fresh turkey instead of leftover cooked turkey? Absolutely! If you don’t have leftovers, you can cook a turkey breast or thighs specifically for this recipe. Simply poach or roast the turkey until cooked through, then shred or dice it before adding it to the soup.

What if I don’t have egg noodles? No problem! Small pasta shapes like ditalini, elbow macaroni, or even broken spaghetti work well. You could also use rice,

FAQs

Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.

Easy Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup Recipe for a Cozy Meal

Table of Contents